St. Paul dad leaves kids in van after fleeing accident; Arrested

UPDATE: St. Paul police confirmed Wednesday morning that Ward was arrested at a relative's house. Jail records show that he was arrested around 7 p.m. Tuesday.

St. Paul police are asking for the public's help in finding a father who got into a car accident early Tuesday and then fled the scene, reportedly leaving his injured children in the vehicle.

Police responded shortly after 3:20 a.m. Tuesday to a single-car accident at the intersection of Mechanic Avenue and Hazel Street, said St. Paul police spokesman Sgt. Paul Paulos.

Witnesses reported hearing screaming coming from a van that was stuck in a construction hole in the street. The hole was a few inches deep at a spot in the road that had been removed, Paulos said.

When officers arrived at the scene they found two injured children, ages 8 and 14, in the vehicle, Paulos said. The children were transported to Regions Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. They remained hospitalized Tuesday afternoon.

Their father, who was no where to be found, has been identified as Earl Ward, 45, of St. Paul. Ward has been known to frequent Minneapolis and Brooklyn Center. He currently has a felony warrant for his arrest out of Hennepin County for a domestic incident, Paulos said.

Anyone with information, should call the Saint Paul Police traffic unit at 651-266-5729.